KUT News Now

Central Texas top stories for August 11, 2025. After weeks of debate, the City of Austin is set to adopt its next budget this week. Students at 76 schools across the Austin Independent School District will get free breakfast and lunch this school year, but federal funding cuts mean the program faces an uncertain future. Starting today, city crews will replace water-filled barricades on East Sixth Street with pre-cast concrete barriers. 

The post KUT Morning Newscast for August 11, 2025: The City of Austin is set to adopt its next budget this week appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The AISD Board of Trustees will see a draft list in October and take a vote in November. Watch for some upcoming traffic headaches; the north side of the Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Bridge over I-35 in Austin will be torn down this weekend.

The post KUT Morning Newscast for August 8, 2025: The Austin Independent School District is still deciding which schools to close or merge before the 2026-2027 school year. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 7, 2025. The Austin city council is expected to adopt a new budget and tax rate next week. Travis County property owners can now get a preview of their tax bills. Cedar Park’s Firefly Aerospace is now public. Dinosaur footprints have been found in the Big Sandy Creek area of northwestern Travis County. We could add to the total number of triple-digit days before the week is up.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 7, 2025: Austin residents can expect to see an increase on their property tax bills appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 7, 2025. Democrat Greg Casar says feds haven’t been forthcoming about recent arrests in East Austin. Tens of thousands of families in Texas may find themselves paying higher energy bills if the Trump Administration cancels the “Solar for All” initiative begun by the Biden Administration. A distribution center’s open through Saturday for people impacted by last month’s Austin-area flooding. Several dinosaur footprints have been found in the Big Sandy Creek area in northwestern Travis County.

KUT News Now is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public media. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Morning Newscast for August 7, 2025: An Austin congressman is asking for transparency from federal immigration authorities appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 6, 2025. Governor Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in response to the party’s quorum break putting the Legislature on hold. Williamson County is trying to set aside enough funds to establish a new district court to keep up with a growing caseload. Hays County is losing its animal shelter in San Marcos next year. People who need cash to rebuild or repair their homes after last month’s flooding can apply for aid through the Central Texas Community Foundation.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 6, 2025: Governor Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 6, 2025. A new report says nearly 200 homes in northwestern Travis County were damaged during the July 5th floods. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he’ll go to court to have Democratic lawmakers who’ve left the state thrown out of office. The absence of Democratic lawmakers could delay key legislation and possibly trigger another special session down the road. Georgetown Independent School District officials say the district’s poised to begin this school year with a budget surplus thanks to newly appropriated state funds.

KUT News Now is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public media. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Morning Newscast for August 6, 2025: Nearly 200 homes in northwestern Travis County were damaged during the July 5th floods appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 5, 2025. Austin City Council is finalizing its spending plan for the next year. Texas lawmakers are debating a bill that would ban police complaint files from being released to the public. The City of Austin is looking to hire crossing guards. The free concert series Blues on the Green is back for two nights.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 5, 2025: Austin is in the home stretch of its budget season appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 5, 2025. Republicans, under pressure from President Donald Trump, are seeking to pick up as many as five seats in next year’s midterm election. Hundreds of companies across Texas that manufacture hemp products are waiting on pins and needles to see if the state legislature bans their business. Williamson County’s plans to bring a spaceport to the area appear to be temporarily grounded. Austin has a new tallest building in its skyline, according to its developers.

KUT News Now is made at KUT Public Media Studios. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public media. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Morning Newscast for August 5, 2025: Texas Republicans are pushing for the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who’ve left Texas to prevent the passage of a redistricted congressional map appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Central Texas top stories for August 4, 2025. Texas House members from the Austin-area are among the more than 50 Democrats who’ve left the state to prevent Republicans from passing a new gerrymandered congressional map. More than 100-million dollars have been raised to support recovery in the month since flooding devastated parts of the Hill Country. Austin City Council members are deliberating the budget this week. Liberty Hill is the latest community in Central Texas to receive an ‘International Dark Sky Community’ designation. Temperatures will be cooler than normal for most of this week.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post KUT Afternoon Newscast for August 4, 2025: Texas House Democrats leave state to block proposed Republican congressional map appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The City of Austin has built almost 50 roundabouts with more on the way. Construction on Austin’s newest roundabout is set to begin this week. KUT’s Nathan Bernier finds out why Austin keeps turning intersections into roundabouts.

This podcast is made at KUT and KUTX, which are public radio stations in Austin, Texas. You may have heard that Congress just took back the money it had allocated for public radio. Our organization stands to lose 1.2 million dollars. We’re asking our listeners now to help us make up this shortfall. If you want to help us out, you can make a donation at supportthispodcast.org.

The post Why Austin keeps turning intersections into roundabouts appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.